State Council approves Yinchuan’s city plan in NW China

The overall development plan for Yinchuan was approved by the State Council on Sept 12. It is a road map for the capital city of Northwest China’s Ningxia autonomous region from 2011 to 2020.

Urban and rural development should be integrated, said the plan, and the construction of infrastructure and public services in urban areas should take into account the surrounding rural areas to help boost agricultural industrialization and economic modernization.

The scale of Yinchuan city’s growth will be controlled, so that by 2020, the population of its central area will be capped at 1.3 million, and the area for urban construction will be set within 152.8 square kilometers. No extra development zones and new areas beyond the plan will be allowed.

The plan also urges utilizing the city’s underground space, improving the efficiency of land use and protecting arable land, especially primary farmlands.

Yinchuan will continue to improve its transportation infrastructure, including highways, railways and airports, to connect inbound and outbound traffic. For urban transport, the city will step up building a comprehensive network that centers on public transport tools, combining various other means, such as walking and bicycles.

Urban infrastructure construction also includes improving the city’s water supply and drainage systems and garbage disposal facilities.

A comprehensive disaster prevention and public security system covering firefighting, civil air defense, flood, earthquake and geological disasters prevention should also be set up, according to the document.

The plan also pledges to construct a resource-conserving and environment-friendly city, cutting energy emissions, eliminating backward industrial capacity, controlling contamination and promoting the construction of a sponge city.

More public services, including education and medical care, will be enhanced. Meanwhile, affordable housing will be part of the city’s construction plan, and renovation of shantytowns and dilapidated buildings will be accelerated in both urban and rural areas.

As a national historical and cultural city, Yinchuan is also asked to pay more attention to the protection of environment and historic sites, including ancient city pattern of the capital city and king’s tombs from the Kingdom of Western Xia (1038 — 1227).